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Home » Cyber-warfare » Iraq Cyber Attack and the DigiSEALs

Iraq Cyber Attack and the DigiSEALs

cyber-cell

Reports have recently made it into the public domain that back in May of 2007 President George W. Bush authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) to launch a sophisticated cyber attack on the cellular phones and computers of insurgents in Iraq. This cyber attack created the ability for U.S. forces to plant false information that lead to the deception of insurgents. Multiple senior level officials have reportedly told media sources that this attack helped turn the tide of the war in Iraq. 

Coincidently enough two senior officials (Mike McConnell — NSA and Army General David Petraeus — Commander of allied forces in Iraq) with significant experience and cyber warfare knowledge that understood the capabilities of cyber weapons were placed in top military and intelligence positions.

The mission of Cyber Command is to protect and defend the U.S. military’s information assets, networks and systems, as well as to stand ready to conduct offensive cyber attack operations against our adversaries. Inside sources say that Cyber Command has almost finalized their cyber warfare doctrine and cyber operational plans based on the experience and knowledge of the intelligence agencies as well as other military leaders.

FACT:  The first information warfare center at the NSA was established in the mid 90s.
FACT: Each year, DoD graduates approximately 100 students from a special program devoted solely to cyber warfare.

One glimpse into cyber operations has already leaked out. For the last few month rumors have persisted about special cyber units, referred to as “Cyber Seal Teams,” that are deployed on foreign soil and actively compromising networks and systems to gather intelligence and more. You can be sure our enemies are building or already have these same type of cyber units.

While U.S. military and intelligence organizations have taken aggressive steps to address the threat of cyber attack, according to Congressman Jim Langevin, who chaired a subcommittee on cyber security, found that almost nothing has been done to protect the U.S. Power Grid. Someone or some organization needs to take or be given ownership of protecting our critical infrastructure, not just the power grid, from cyber attacks. They also need to be held accountable and monitored.

– Kevin Coleman

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November 16th, 2009 | Cyber-warfare | 499126 Comments »http://defensetech.org/2009/11/16/iraq-cyber-attack-and-the-digiseals/Iraq+Cyber+Attack+and+the+DigiSEALs2009-11-16+15%3A04%3A54christian You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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  1. Strick says:
    November 16, 2009 at 3:56 pm

    CyberSEALS has a more alliterative ring to it. I assume they’re organized into eTeams?

    Reply
  2. Oble says:
    November 16, 2009 at 4:38 pm

    >Bush authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) to launch a sophisticated cyber attack on the cellular phones and computers of insurgents in Iraq.

    Just hilarious.

    And who was running the cellular phone systems at the time ? Why it was us ! — so the “sophisticated attack” consisted of simply patching into our own phone system something that takes all of 3 seconds.

    Cyber seals sounds like a bit of cross marketing to me. If you’re not into becoming a spy because the $99 certificate on counter terrorism or the $159 one on “unrestricted warfare” at Kevins spyops academy is too much then why not check out the affiliates:

    “CyberSEALs are currently on active duty and still out there on the edge. For security reasons, (and to keep their identity safe from those “spin doctors” in the Pentagon who tried to convince the public that the Iraqis used no chemical weapons in Desert Storm) Cyber Seals’ identity can’t be revealed. Anonymity allows Cyber Seals to tell it like it is–ask them a question and they will tell no lies!”

    - Show me how to Pump Up

    - Show me how to Kick Ass

    - Show me about Knives

    - Show me the ½ Price Internet Special DVD & Video Deals

    And much more good stuff for losers living in their mums basement.

    Reply
    • ProjectThor says:
      November 16, 2009 at 6:54 pm

      My, don’t we sound like a pencil dick with an axe to grind.…

      Reply
  3. Curious says:
    November 16, 2009 at 4:56 pm

    Oble: “And who was running the cellular phone systems at the time ? Why it was us ! — so the “sophisticated attack” consisted of simply patching into our own phone system something that takes all of 3 seconds.”

    I was under the impression the cell phone network was not US property by was set up by multinational companies. Can you offer some proff that the cellphone network was exclusivly set up and run by the Americans?

    Reply
  4. The Voice of Reason says:
    November 16, 2009 at 6:07 pm

    this is so stupid, Kevin get the fuck out of here this sight no officially sucks ass

    Reply
    • Bart says:
      November 18, 2009 at 5:09 pm

      TO The Voice of Reason —

      YOU ARE A COWARD! You hide behind a made up name so your moronic posting can not be attributed back to you.

      GO AWAY or grow a set of balls and tell us all who you are and professionally respond to the blog!

      Reply
  5. Valcan says:
    November 16, 2009 at 6:20 pm

    OK

    A) This is THERE site. Not yours. You have no right or reason to get angry. Just leave. Go away and visit some other site.

    See i solved yalls problem gtfo.

    B) what part of this is stupid?

    Voice and friends all the time i see yall coment. Ever do i see anything construtive? NO. Do i ever see any ideas for fixing things? Beyon “LISTEN TO ME AND JUST DIE!!” No.

    So wht the f*&k are you here?

    I suspect a sad lack of a life. Suicide is an opinion now you know. That whoel end of life thing :)

    Reply
    • Oble says:
      November 16, 2009 at 8:01 pm

      Deer Secritary of Dafence

      I am humbiling requesting a job wid U cause I wood like
      To woerk wid my frends on defense-tech. like Cristjun and Kevan and
      discus all the kool tech like guns an nives and cyber stuff and stuff.
      1st thing I wood do is teech that Oble a leson.

      sined Vulcan

      No it’s a US government blog Vulcan. But keep hammering away you have a bright future ahead of you in the US government.

      Reply
      • Greg says:
        November 16, 2009 at 11:18 pm

        You must not ever get any, you have much tension built up. I’m sick of reading your nonsense.

        Reply
    • elgatoso says:
      November 17, 2009 at 1:56 am

      Valcan ‚I think that Oble is our friend Flying proudly joyned.I am not sure but for the form of his sentences could be the same guy

      Reply
      • Oble says:
        November 17, 2009 at 6:08 am

        What is this a ESL class ?

        Reply
  6. Curious says:
    November 16, 2009 at 5:05 pm

    Oble: “And who was running the cellular phone systems at the time ? Why it was us ! — so the sophisticated attack consisted of simply patching into our own phone system something that takes all of 3 seconds.”

    Ok i’ve done a quick google on this subject and nothing would suggest an American made and run cell phone network existed in iraq. Infact various news links point to just the opposite:
    http://​news​.bbc​.co​.uk/​1​/​h​i​/​b​u​s​i​n​e​s​s​/​3​1​6​8​1​0​6​.​stm

    and this company seems to be the main player in Iraq as far as cell phone nets are concerned, I believe it is a Kuwaiti company…

    http://​www​.zain​.com/​m​u​s​e​/​o​b​j​/​l​a​n​g​.​d​e​f​a​u​l​t​/​p​o​r​tal….

    Reply
    • Oble says:
      November 16, 2009 at 7:37 pm

      Shares a compound with the kuwaiti embassy or something ?

      Reply
      • Greg says:
        November 16, 2009 at 11:17 pm

        You have no idea what your talking about. your just spouting off at the mouth. You don’t seem like you know much about IT. Furthermore your just a hater, everything the US does, you cry about. Are you just jealous?

        Reply
  7. CJ- says:
    November 17, 2009 at 1:42 am

    I’m violating National Security regs but the cell attack on insurgents was actually very sophisticated. We sent porn pics to all the insurgent cell phones and our troops just went around shooting anyone jacking off to their phone. We pretty much won after that.

    Reply
  8. gsak says:
    November 17, 2009 at 2:39 am

    Nice. Look out for the overweight men with Tux apparel and extra copies of BackTrack. :)

    Just kidding. I had an offer to test for acceptance, actually. I said no thanks. Sometimes I wish I said yes.

    Reply
  9. Curious says:
    November 17, 2009 at 8:18 am

    Oble: “Shares a compound with the kuwaiti embassy or something ? ”

    That the best you can do to defend your allegation?
    You fail, and fail in a rather epic manner to I might add. Thanks for playing.

    Reply
    • Greg says:
      November 17, 2009 at 12:43 pm

      That’s the best someone can come up with when they make stuff up. He must be used to failing.

      Reply
  10. SkysoldierRecon says:
    November 17, 2009 at 5:04 pm

    was this the “manhattan” like project Bob Woodward referred to when he said “if ur a terrorist in Iraq, run like hell…” did he mean THIS project?? Damn, ya gotta like this one..the possibilities are, well, ENDLESS…LOL!!!

    Reply
  11. Brian B says:
    November 17, 2009 at 6:52 pm

    Kevin implied — “Someone or some orga­ni­za­tion needs to take or be given own­er­ship of pro­tect­ing our crit­i­cal infra­struc­ture, not just the power grid, from cyber attacks. They also need to be held account­able and monitored.”

    In Answer I offer — How about the Department of Homeland Security?

    DHS National Cybersecurity Division

    Mission

    The National Cybersecurity Division (NCSD) works collaboratively with public, private and international entities to secure cyberspace and America’s cyber assets.

    For More Information Contact
    National Cybersecurity Division
    Department of Homeland Security
    Washington, D. C. 20528

    URL, http://​www​.dhs​.gov/​x​a​b​o​u​t​/​s​t​r​u​c​t​u​r​e​/​e​d​i​t​o​r​i​a​l​_​083...

    Reply
  12. Philo says:
    November 17, 2009 at 8:04 pm

    ALRIGHT!! Enough of this. Just stop it. We all know that this cyber warfare/attack stuff is just a bunch of BS, driven by opportunistic money hungry people who want to scare people into believing that there’s any real applicable reason to invest in all this.….…..
    ;)

    Reply
  13. McAfee Report says:
    November 17, 2009 at 11:17 pm

    Over the past year, the increase in politically motivated cyberattacks has raised alarm and caution, with targets including the White House, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service and Department of Defense in the U.S. alone. Nation-states are actively developing cyberwarfare capabilities and involved in the cyberarms race, targeting government networks and critical infrastructures. The result of a cyberattack of this nature can result in physical damage and death –it’s not just a war between computers, cyberwarfare can cause real devastation.

    Cyberweapons Are Targeting Critical Infrastructure – Attackers are not only building their cyberdefenses, but cyberoffenses, targeting infrastructure such as power grids, transportation, telecommunication, finance and water supplies, because damage can be done quickly and with little effort. In most developed countries, critical infrastructure is connected to the Internet and lacks proper security functions, leaving these installations vulnerable to attacks. Without the appropriate protection combined with the current lack of preparedness, an attack on these infrastructures would be detrimental and will cause more destruction than any previous attacks.

    http://​newsroom​.mcafee​.com/​a​r​t​i​c​l​e​_​d​i​s​p​l​a​y​.​c​f​m​?ar...

    Reply
  14. AMMO says:
    November 18, 2009 at 5:22 am

    People said that the Earth was flat for hundreds of years,even killed and imprisoned those who said it was round. That didn’t make it true.

    Likewise, people can say that there is no cyber-terror threat. They can even laugh at those who affirm it as true, but that doesn’t mean it’s a lie, just because Joe Snuffy says so.

    Reply
  15. john k. says:
    November 18, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    this is kind of baller. if we don’t dominate in the cyber world as well as the physical world our ass is grass.

    Reply
  16. Oble says:
    November 19, 2009 at 6:44 pm

    With Kevin no doubt feverishly crafting another own goal over the Brazilian power company story – I can hardly wait– we take time off to consider whether a government can patch it’s own telephone system – and have a good chuckle –

    But what if it’s made by Alcatel ?! :-)

    Reply
    • Curious says:
      November 20, 2009 at 8:53 am

      You really have no clue what you’re on about do you kid. Just a thought but pat the start of the thread and just admit you had no idea what you were talking about, afterall we all make mistakes…

      Reply

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